Westlawn Middle School
Transforming a School’s Culture through Character Education
Tuscaloosa City Schools
Principal: Dr. Darlene Atkins
Superintendent: Dr. Michael Daria
The Westlawn Middle School story is one that everyone should hear, as it is inspiring to see how change can happen when a school’s emphasis on character education serves as its roadmap to success. Historically, Westlawn struggled with low test scores, ongoing disciplinary infractions, and high teacher turnover. This began the school’s deliberate focus on character education. The Westlawn staff has worked intentionally to ensure that character education is not merely an initiative, but a way of life. The core values of integrity, kindness, perseverance, service, structure, and success are embedded into every facet of the Westlawn experience. Every student and every adult are members of a house uniquely named after the school’s core values. Monthly, students participate in character-enriched lessons and house meetings that emphasize all six core values, with the intended outcome of encouraging students and staff to model positive character traits in and out of school. House Games serve as the pinnacle of Westlawn’s character initiative, as a new house is crowned the champion each month. This has created a positive school environment, preparing students to make thoughtful, ethical decisions in high school and beyond. The emphasis on character has reinforced the school’s belief that cultivating character is foundational to sustainable success, as Westlawn has seen measurable improvements and positive impacts in every area, making historical gains during the 2024-2025 school year.
